FOOD SCENE

The Glasgow food scene is far too vast, exciting and diverse to condense into 300 words. That said, I have been told that as Food Editor it’s my ‘job’ to ‘give it a go’, so here are the key points

Words: Peter Simpson

Firstly, Glasgow is a haven for vegans and ve ies. Whether it’s cafes, bars, comfort food or something a little fancier, there are animal-free options all over the city. There’s also a notable overlap between the city’s vegan options and its music scene – if you’re chomping on some seitan and the floor starts rumbling, don’t worry. In this context, that’s a good sign!

Next, Glasgow is the least walkable of the Scottish cities, on account of being actually quite big, and its different areas have distinct strengths. The City Centre has a lot of great casual places to dive in and out of, but weirdly, not a lot of great coffee. Laboratorio Espresso or bust, that’s my motto.

Finnieston is home to a bunch of fairly new places I’d call ‘fancy but not too fancy’ – really good, inventive food in cool but not-overbearing surroundings. Up in the West End near Glasgow Uni are a mixture of spots that have been around for decades, and brand new places that may or may not still be there on your next visit. Being near students also means lots of great cheap eats, with particularly strong South East Asian restaurants to check out. The Southside is home to an incredibly diverse range of takeaways, little independent places and holes-inthe-wall representing a huge array of nationalities and traditions.

Naturally, these rules apply unless they don’t, so please do read the rest of this guide. Other quick notes – most of the pubs in the city centre shut at midnight, and there’s a surprising amount of good ice cream given how rainy it is. It is very rainy, but it is very very good ice cream.

Head due south from the River Clyde, passing railway tracks, motorway flyovers and warehouses, and you’ll find the Southside, a series of culturally diverse neighbourhoods teeming with leafy streets, lively bars and the most on-point food scene in the city.

Food

Glasgow Southside overflows with delicious and affordable food options. High on your must-try list should be Little Hoi An (26 Allison St), a cute-as-a-button Vietnamese joint serving tangy salads and wildly tasty pho. Just next door (no. 12-14) you’ll find Kurdish Street Food, home of the best kebab south of the Clyde.

Around the corner, on Pollokshaws Road, is the welcoming Ranjit’s Kitchen (no. 607), a family-run Punjabi restaurant serving up flavourful homemade pakora, parathas and curries in a buzzy atmosphere. Another great Indian place nearby is New Anand (76 Nithsdale Rd), a bright corner restaurant with a great value buffet if you’re in the mood to indulge.

Taco fans should make a beeline to Sacred Tum Tacos (522 Victoria Rd) while the go-to pizza joint in this part of town is undoubtedly Errol’s Hot Pizza (379 Victoria Road). If it’s mezze you’re after, try Halloumi (697 Pollokshaws Rd), which serves up mouth-watering Greek-inspired small plates in a light-filled space.

Tucked away in The Cooperage (674 Pollokshaws Rd), a lovely courtyard behind Pollokshaws Road, there’s Vivi’s Deli, where you’ll find some extremely tasty vegan scran. If it’s delicious Korean grub you’re on the hunt for, try Gomo Kimchi (138 Allison St), a deli serving up Korean street food and homemade kimchi.

Southsiders love a good brunch. Queen of this midmorning meal is Cafe Strange Brew (1082 Pollokshaws Rd), a hopping corner cafe doing endlessly creative e -on-toast combinations. If you can’t manage Strange Brew’s long weekend queues, there’s Gusto & Relish (729-731 Pollokshaws Rd), The Brooklyn Cafe (21-23 Minard Rd), E-Street (421 Clarkston Rd) or Common Ground (186 Battlefield Rd) – at the latter, we recommend the massive home-made sausage rolls.

Another fave is the Battlefield Rest (55 Battlefield Rd); formally a tram station dating back to 1915, it’s now a splendid family-run bistro serving Italian food with a Scottish flavour. For the humble fish supper, there’s Hooked (1027 Cathcart Rd), Salt & Vinegar (1044 Pollokshaws Rd) and Marina (675 Pollokshaws Rd). For ice cream, meanwhile, La Gelatessa (38 Nithsdale Rd), home to small-batch, artisan gelato, is the place to be.

And if you’re after proper cheap eats, you’ll stru le to find better value for money than the legendary Star Bar (537-539 Eglinton St), where you can get a three-course lunch for less than a fiver!

Bars And Pubs

The lively Allison Arms (720 Pollokshaws Rd) is arguably the Southside’s favourite pub, whether for a pint after work or to kick off a big night out. The Ally has a couple of massive fridges well-stocked with beers from all over, but if that doesn’t satisfy then head down the road to craft beer haven the Koelschip Yard (686-688 Pollokshaws Rd). The Rum Shack (657-659 Pollokshaws Rd) is great for cocktails and, you guessed it, rum. The vibes are good too at The Bungo (17-21 Nithsdale Road).

Another Southside favourite is The Glad Cafe (1006A Pollokshaws Rd): as well as lovely food and drink options, the Glad programmes Southside’s best lineup of live music and spoken word events. The Church on the Hill (16 Algie St) offers tonnes of space, sport on big screens (if that’s your bag) and great views of Queen’s Park. A welcome new edition to the Southside scene is Lunar (72 Nithsdale Rd), which serves natural wines and seasonal cocktails in a beautiful, airy bar.

If you find yourself at closing time in any of the above and not quite ready for bed, there’s always Southside institution The Shed (26 Langside Ave), the Southside’s loud, brash and much-loved nightclub.

Coffee

For a caffeine hit, we recommend either branch of Grain and Grind (393 Victoria Rd, 50 Battlefield Rd) or the ace Short Long Black (501 Victoria Rd). The latter’s new sister venue is The Burnfield Bakery (717 Pollokshaws Rd) where the buns and cakes are as big a draw as the coffee.

Not only does Milk (452 Victoria Rd) do excellent coffee, it’s a vital social enterprise set up to empower and support refugee and migrant women living in Glasgow. You’ll also have all your coffee needs catered for at the snug Bees Knees Cafe (83 Bowman St).

During the day you’ll find delicious coffee and cake options, too, at the newly minted Seven 21/HINBA (721 Pollokshaws Rd), which transforms in the evening to be a relaxed wine bar with an inventive menu of small plates. Another creative collaboration that’s livening up the Southside coffee scene is Cafe Buena Vida (535 Victoria Rd) – from the people behind ace community radio station Radio Buena Vida.

Indie Shops And Galleries

Three of Glasgow’s best indie book shops are in the Southside: Mount Florida Books (1069 Cathcart Rd), Burning House Books (446 Cathcart Rd) and Catagory Is Books (34 Allison St') – the later is a bastion of queer culture in the city with a brilliantly curated collection of books, comics and zines exploring LGBTQIA+ lives.

Crate di ers should find an eclectic collection of records at Some Great Reward (part of The Cooperage) and plant lovers are well-served with the friendly plant nursery Glasgow PlantMama (617 Pollokshaws Rd). The Wee Beer Shop (623 Pollokshaws Rd) does exactly what it says on the tin. Wild Gorse Pottery (684 Pollokshaws Rd) offers some beautiful, handmade pots and crockery. And Stephen O’Neil Art (1030 Pollokshaws Rd) is a must for gifts, stationery and prints. Park Lane Market (974 Polloksaws Rd), held fortnightly, is another place to find work by local makers.

The Southside’s key arts venue is Tramway (25 Albert Dr); situated in an old tram depot, it’s home to a worldclass programme of visual and performance art, music and theatre. And The Burrell Collection is an eclectic and fascinating art collection housed in Glasgow’s most beautiful gallery, situated within Pollok Country Park, which you can find out more about in our section on Glasgow’s green spaces.